Not only are they making waves with hit
songs, they are also appreciated by fans and corporate agencies who have
invested huge sums of money in endorsement deals with them.
So, with input from some industry experts,
based on Vocal Ability, Lyrical Content, Mainstream Acceptability, Consistency,
Commercial Value, business ventures and current endorsement deals; here is a
compiled list of the Top 5 Most Bankable Female Musicians in Nigeria at the
moment.
- Chidinma
Chidinma Ekile; the unrelenting beautiful
singer-songwriter, recording artist and stage performer is the first ever
female winner of the ‘MTN Project Fame competition’. Since her big win 2010,
and single after single later, this 24-year-old star has proven her being
worthy of the title.
Ms Chidinma hit it big by debuting the smash
single ‘Jankolikoko’ ft Sound Sultan right after she was crowned. The single
‘Kedike’ later became her trademark tune, earning her awards after awards
including ‘Best Female West African Act’ at the KORA awards in 2012, as well as
earning her the tag name ‘Ms Kedike’.
This City People nominated ‘Female Musician
of the Year’ is one star that knows how to deliver songs in a way every class
of audience in Nigeria today can rock to.
Following the release of a video for her ‘Emi
Ni Baller’ single, she became the first female musician to peak at number 1 on
the ‘MTV Base Official Naija Top 10 charts’. Beyond this, her pure talent has
made her an MTN ambassador.
- Waje
Aituaje Iruobe is one Nigerian singer whose
vocal range covers three octaves. She is mostly known as WAJE, an acronym for
“Words Aren’t Just Enough”.
Bring up the discussion about who the best
female singer in Nigeria is anywhere and Waje’s name will always pop up. The
talented lady behind the remake of P-Square’s “Omoge Mi” and the female
voice in the duo’s 2008 hit track “Do Me” and Banky W’s “Thief my Kele” blew up
after her duet with MI. On ‘One Naira’ in 2011, with her vocals and outstanding
lyrics, she earned her place in the industry as a force to reckon with.
Her vocal ability has earned her awards as
‘Best Rhythm And Blues Singer’ at the 2011 City People Entertainment Awards,
‘Best Female Vocalist at the 2011 Nigerian Entertainment Awards, ‘Best Female
Vocalist at the 2011 Hip hop World Awards, ‘Best African Act at the 2011 Deafa
Afro-Europe Awards, ‘Best Vocal Performance at the 2010 South South Awards,
‘Best Female Performer at the 2010 South South Awards, ‘Musician Of The Year at
the 2013 City People Awards, among others. She is currently a Globacom
ambassador.
- Seyi Shay
Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, known by her stage
name Seyi Shay, is a recording artist, songwriter and producer who was born and
raised in London to Nigerian parents. Shay has toured with P. Diddy and Beyoncé
in the UK before now, and has written and worked with a number of the
industry’s finest like Brian Michael Cox, Chipmunk, Rob Knoxx, H-Money, Cameron
Wallace, Jolyn Skinner, Joshua Tree, and Joe & Brian Higgins, to name a
few.
This singer/songwriter’s journey started in
the UK where she was part of the musical group ‘Boadicea’. She returned
to Nigeria and dazzled us with hits ‘Like Loving your way’, ‘No lele’ and
‘Irawo’. But it wasn’t until her single, ‘Murda’ that she really struck gold.
Her vocals are as solid as her lyrical
strength. She can switch from traditional RnB to Reggae, and then Pop without
dropping in delivery and quality. She was nominated for the 2014 Channel O
Music Video Awards’ ‘Most Gifted Female’, the City People Entertainment Awards’
‘Musician of the Year (Female)’, the Nigeria Entertainment Awards ‘Female
Artist of the Year’, the World Music Awards World’s Best Song for “Ragga Ragga”
as well as for ‘World’s Best Video’. She finally landed herself the City People
Entertainment Awards for ‘Best New Musician of the Year (Female)’.
So far, she is making the right moves
everywhere she turns. She recently inked an endorsement deal as the face of
Hollandia Yogurt, as well as an endorsement deal with telecommunications
service provider Etisalat.
- Tiwa Savage
Mrs. Tiwa Savage Balogun is one Nigerian
female artist with the phrase “star” written all over her. This Nigerian beauty
is a triple threat with her natural songwriting ability, her electrifying stage
presence and a voice that stays powerful through many stages.
Mrs. Savage took over Africa with the single
“Kele Kele Love”, which went on to become an anthem for women everywhere around
as it took the number one spot on numerous radio and television stations across
the continent.
Her big break was at age 16 when she started
off a background singer for George Michael. Her determination didn’t stop there
as she went on to do backup singing for a host of artistes including Mary J.
Blige, Chaka Khan, Blu Cantrell, Kelly Clarkson, Andreas Bocelli, Ms Dynamite,
and much more.
This University of Kent graduate has written
for some of today’s A-list artistes and producers and has also received
numerous song-writing credits. She has won the City People Entertainment Award
for ‘Female Musician of the Year’, ‘Best R&B Soul Song’ for ‘Kele Kele Love’
at the Afrotainment Museke Online Music Awards, ‘Most Stylish Female Artiste’
at the FAB Magazine Awards and ‘Most Promising Act’ at the Dynamix Youth
Awards. She also picked up the ‘Best Female Act’ at MTV Africa Music Awards,
Best Vocal Performance (Female) (The Headies), and was nominated for the ‘BET
International Act Award’.
Her hard work has paid off so much she is a
brand ambassador for MTN, Pepsi and Forte Oil.
1. Omawumi
It’s easy to see how Ms. OMAWUMI Megbele as
the number 1 highest paid female performer in Nigeria. ‘The Queen! Omawonder’
as she is often called has been a consistent force in Nigerian music since she
burst onto the scene in 2007.
After finishing 1st runner up in West African
Idol, she went on to entrench herself in the industry. What makes Omawumi
special is her unique ability to appeal to every class of person in Africa with
her choice of language (pre-dominantly pidgin).
She released her debut Single ‘In The Music’
a kwaito-based sound which she fused with pidgin English and the song became an
instant hit. Hitting number 1 on various radio stations and getting multiple
nominations and awards including the most coveted award ‘Next Rated’ and ‘Best
Female Vocalist Awards From Hiphop World Awards 2009’ amongst others is a few
of her accolades.
Ms. Omawonder has also proven she is more
than just music as she delved into the movie industry and is doing great. She
currently has four brand endorsements– Globacom, Konga, Mortein & Malta
Guinness.
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